When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

Chapter 12 Used as a Pawn

Hazel Hawthorne knew better than anyone how much Aiden Xavier loved Raina Lowell. After all, the only reason he’d married her was because of Raina.

Fiona Forrest didn’t approve of Raina and had even declared that Raina should never dream of stepping foot into the Xavier family home. To avoid being forced by his mother to marry some other woman, Aiden had chosen to partner up with Hazel.

His only goal was to have her hold the title of Mrs. Xavier for Raina, making it easier for Raina to marry into the family after he and Hazel divorced.

Hazel suddenly realized, ’Isn’t everything I’m doing now just clearing the way for Raina?’

As she’d thought, she was just a pawn, and Aiden Xavier was the one using her.

Still, her arrangement with Aiden was mutually beneficial. It wasn’t like she was getting the short end of the stick.

Having come to this conclusion, Hazel wandered back into the house. She had just been wondering why Aiden was back when she saw him coming down from the second floor, laptop bag in hand.

"You’re leaving again?" The question slipped out unconsciously.

To Aiden, it sounded like Hazel was asking him to stay.

Aiden walked up to Hazel and stopped. "Do you want me to stay?"

Hazel looked startled and quickly shook her head. "You’re reading too much into it. I was just thinking there was no way you’d actually come back. Turns out you were just grabbing your laptop."

"Getting your laptop is such a minor thing. You could have just sent your secretary. Why would a busy man like you make the trip yourself?" Hazel said casually. Looking at the bag in his hand, she couldn’t help but think something was wrong with his head.

"I won’t be around for a while. You’ll need to handle my mother," Aiden said, his face devoid of expression. It didn’t detract from his noble, princely air; if anything, it added the alluring charm of a cold, powerful CEO.

Hazel calmly averted her gaze. "I know."

isn’t well. I’m going to be taking care of her for a while. If my mother

mother isn’t for me to get involved in. But I know what my role is, so you don’t have to worry." For a second, Hazel almost

comprehension,

I know what to do. Nothing’s even happened yet. If my mother-in-law finds out, we’ll figure out how to

clearly unsatisfied with her answer. He was about to bring up her father, but Hazel cut him off. "And don’t you forget our three rules!

don’t embarrass me when you’re out there

rest assured on that front. I’ll be working under the name Hazel Hawthorne, not as Mrs.

sneered. "See that you

relief. She was more comfortable living here alone. When Raina had been staying

if Raina had become the lady of the house, and Hazel was

Raina, Hazel couldn’t help but mock herself. ’To think I actually believed for a second that

man became as gentle as water in front of the woman he

thing he didn’t do was hold Raina in his arms and pamper

she must have been out of her mind to suspect they had fought. And just like that, reality hit her in the

sofa. Seeing her like this,

most unfit wife they had

her

cared what others thought. She wasn’t a child anymore;

and started searching for a suitable job. She had studied jewelry design in college, but finding a job in her field would be

wasn’t a problem

Besides, she hadn’t

immediately submitted her pre-written resume. All she could do now

resume to a few other companies as well, just

didn’t really bother her or seriously affect

are masochists. She knew she wouldn’t find anything nice, but she couldn’t

shot up the trending charts, holding steady in the

it. It was Dylan Miller, being interviewed by a reporter from